This is a real shame as Del Toro was one actor that we could all agree would be a great addition to this (any) cast. But unfortunately after initial talks a deal could not be reached. Vulture report..
Sadly, there's one high-profile star whom Abrams didn't manage to beam up: Benicio Del Toro, who entered into talks last month to play the sequel's new villain. Insiders tell Vulture that the deal actually went asunder last Wednesday after parties couldn't come to terms over monetary issues.
Abrams has another couple of great cast additions in Alice Eve and Peter Weller but he will have to move fairly fast to secure a replacement for Del Toro who would have played the movie's villain. But which villain? After Latino Review claimed to have uncovered the bad guy's identity as Khan Noonian Singh, Abrams himself shot it down with a "not true". But it seems the director was just denying this until he was good and ready to reveal it himself as another reliable source has pegged Khan as the villain too..
Vulture hears from a highly placed source that Khan is indeed the film's baddie.
Expect this to be revealed officially one way or the other soon enough. In the mean time, assuming it is Khan, who do you guys think would be a worthy replacement for Del Toro?
Here is an update of sorts from the movie's co-producer Damon Lindelof via his Twitter account..
"VULTUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURE!!!!!"
Take that to mean what you will, but I think it's fairly obvious. Khan is (un)officially the villain.
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About The Author:
Mark Cassidy is a writer, photographer, amateur filmmaker, and Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic from Dublin, Ireland.